Janus

And he said…..

The Duchess of Cornwall with child dressed as a king

It’s offally risky talking politics here but I for one was pleased to see David Cameron’s bid to loosen the Eurocuffs which are dragging the members towards a state of bondage. Even more pleased that Angela Merkel wrong-footed Francoise Hollande by recognising that not every EU member wants totalitarian Eurocracy and will talk about the implications. Meanwhile don’t I hear many millions of Europeans shouting, “Yes! At last somebody is standing up and challenging the system.”?

Back at home, Labour doesn’t know what to say, except to reject the promised referendum or perhaps not. In fact Cameron’s tactics will be hard for Labour to oppose since they involve negotiating a ‘looser’ membership deal and asking the voters “Yes or No? In or Out”. They can’t oppose renegotiation because they know the strength of public feeling but equally they can’t jump on board. The Milimess will continue. But luckily even they won’t be proposing the Chinese model for the future!

French leave – again

Complaining of gross injustice at home, the gross Gerard Depardieu left for Moscow – a Napoleonic choice, I fear. We’ll see (as my 6-year-old granddaughter is wont to observe). But soft, what other luminary at yonder port of entry breaks cover? It is not Rosy-fingered Dawn but Carla and Nicolulla with a couple of sons, migrating to London – allegedly. Now I can see why Carla might fancy it – some of her ‘best friends’ are natives – but will the little fella really let a high tax-rate drive him out of (one of) his ancestral home(s)? I can only applaud his good taste if he does.

Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba fo-thiotal?*

*Scottish secession from the auld countrie caption?

Shetland ponies and Fair Isle knitwear are beloved across the world, so why not combine the two? These two cosy-looking mares have been dressed in button-down Fair Isle jumpers to promote the Year of Natural Scotland

Just asking

These wild horses are obviously intent on going west.

Any idea why?

Happiness is……

A longed-for pint, another half;
A break from endless rain.
A finished job, a grandchild’s laugh;
A car that starts again.

The Beaujolais, the Stilton’s tang;
The orange evening sea.
The days when fruits abundant hang
From every plant and tree.

A place we know, a new one too;
A gentle hill to climb.
A welcome bed, a stunning view;
A shared remembered time.

Honestly

The cynical hypocrisy of Lance Armstrong continues. No dignified Profumo-style retirement for him. His disgrace as cycling’s biggest-ever cheat is now compounded by his carefully orchestrated, tearful TV ‘confession’, already billed as the greatest show on earth, with the clear objective of seeking sympathy and even more millions of dollars from the hoodwinked public. Pass the spittoon.